Wiring up Neutrik combos with Phantom power

[pete_d]

Hi All, long time reader and first post.

I'm looking at getting a 8x mic/line pre w/ ADAT, and want to get a rack panel to house 8 Neutrik XLR/TRS sockets to feed into the unit. Since the sockets will be going into XLR inputs at the back of the pre (most likely RME Octamic or Octane), I figured that I'd have to short several pins on the back of the combo sockets to accomodate both XLR and TRS going via microphone cable to a single XLR input.
Naturally If I plugged acoustic guitar or similar into the line inputs, I'd want to make sure that +48 wouldn't be soming down the instrument cable. Is there a way to get around this or can the plugs be wired in a certain way so phantom only gets used in the case of XLR?

Any thoughts would be great..

 

[ausrock]

Pete,

I would suggest you find out who is a major supplier of these in Sydney and ask if they can supply wiring options with the Neutrik sockets............OR alternatively..............

Contact Amber Technology at Frenchs Forest, Ph: 94528600, as they are the Aust., distributor and should be able to give you the right information.

 

[pete_d]

Thanks for the digging mate. I might introduce myself a little bit better. My name is Peter Doughman and I work at Turramurra music in Sydney. I have already spoken to the guys at Amber, who is a supplier of ours, but they had no info on file at the time. Strangely, none of the guys I have spoken to at work have soldered a Neutrik combo connector, so they couldn't give me any definitives.

I had been thinking about it (and this is a guitarist's logic so it may be flawed) that the three pins on an XLR is X=earth, L=Live, R=return. would I be correct in thinking that the L=Live/Send pin is only used for Phantom power, and that the mic signal is fed to any given unit via the return pin. If that was the case, could I connect the 1/4" connections TS (unbalanced) to the earth and return pins of the XLR setup, and the hot pin would not affect the unbalanced jack, or is my logic all wrong?

 

[DonF]

In a phantom-powered XLR, both L and R have positive voltage with respect to X (ground). So no, your scheme won't work.

 

[ausrock]

Pete,

I'm not familiar with the connections details of combo socket and I'm surprised that Amber can't give you any info..............but then again, inadequate product knowledge seems to be the growing trend amongst distributors and retailers.